God seems so distant this year,
so aloof, or maybe just embarrassed
by the way we are treating each other,
refusing to put down our weapons,
unwilling to stop terrorizing our neighbors,Â
unable to seek a path that leads to peace.
Will God hear our prayers when we goÂ
to shul and pray for forgiveness this year?
Will our prayers reach God, wherever God is?Â
And will God believe we’re sincere or
just going through the motionsÂ
to gain God’s favor?
How can we ask for a sweet year
when we don’t do anything to help
make it sweet?
When we expect sweetness to be givenÂ
to us from above instead of doing the workÂ
ourselves to make our lives sweeter?
What promises will we make this year
that we won’t be able to keepÂ
(yet again, God sighs),Â
hoping to change but unable to change,Â
wanting to live in peace but not knowing how,Â
afraid to take the first step,
hoping God is watching, waiting for us,Â
willing to catch us if we stumble and fall
in the year ahead,Â
whispering encouragement,Â
standing by our side,
no longer aloof.
